Ease Family Vacations with These 25 Essential Items
Chill Vacations for Your Family: Make the Journey Smoothby Raylyn Paquin (BuzzFeed Contributor)
Music notes playing, laughter, kids having fun...
Travel in Style:
- Scoot-along Suitcase: Keep the little ones entertained at the airport or hotel room with this ride-on suitcase, perfect for packing clothes, toys, or snacks. It features a leash so you're never dragging an extra bag again!
- SlumberPod: Say goodbye to grumpy kids who haven't slept enough, because this genius product slips over their Pack 'n Play or travel crib, providing a cozy, dark environment for a peaceful sleep.
- Travel Cot: Don't let a shortage of beds ruin your vacation! This portable cot is a lifesaver when you're short on beds or if you just don't feel like getting used as a trampoline all night.
- Travel Potty Seat: Forget the airport toilet terror! This collapsible potty seat gives your toddler a familiar spot to do their business, saving you both the hassle.
- Portable High Chair: Give your little one a safe and comfy place to eat, whether you're camping, at the beach, or staying with family. Plus, it folds down for easy transportation!
- Kid-sized Neck Pillow: Keep your kid comfy and snoozing on those long flights, car rides, or bus trips.
- Water Wow Travel Set: Keep your kid busy with this water-activated drawing set, featuring stamps, stencils, and a pen on a harness. No need to worry about losing pieces!
- Car Seat Travel Bag: Make check-in a breeze with this car seat travel bag that keeps everything organized and secure. Bonus: it's perfect if you decide to use your car seat on the plane!
- Snack Spinner: Fill each section of this snack spinner with different snacks to keep your kid full on those long travel days.
- Anker Portable Charger: Keep your devices charged during those pesky delays with this powerful charger, capable of charging two devices at once!
- Travel Activity Tray: This foldable, tablet-compatible tray provides a play space for your kid, saving you the headache of digging through the back seat for toys during long car rides.
- Handheld Luggage Scale: Say goodbye to last-minute baggage rearrangement at the check-in counter, and keep track of your luggage weight with this handy scale.
- Back-of-the-Seat Organizer: Keep everything you need for a long road trip within arm's reach, from tablets and snacks to toys.
- LCD Writing Tablet and Doodle Pad: This screen-free, magical tablet keeps your kid entertained without the mess of traditional crayons and paper. No more chasing crayons into the depths of your car!
- Backseat Storage Bag: Keep all of those essentials handy and easy to grab with this versatile backseat storage bag!
- Portable Trash Bin: Say goodbye to a car filled with wrappers and tissues! This portable bin makes cleanup a breeze during long road trips.
- First Aid Kit: Be prepared for those minor scrapes and cuts with this essential first aid kit, stocked with everything you need for minor injuries.
- Vomit Bags: A must-have for those prone to motion sickness, these vomit bags make cleaning up a breeze compared to dealing with car seat stains.
- Antibacterial Wipes: Keep your kid's hands clean during those moments when they just can't help but touch everything.
- Car Seat Snack Tray: This sturdy snack tray keeps your kid's snacks secure during long car rides, so you don't have to worry about lost crumbs.
- Flexible Mini Fan: Keep your kid cool during those hot and sticky sightseeing days with this portable, flexible fan.
- Sunscreen Applicator: Apply sunscreen like a pro, without the drama, with this soft sponge applicator that easily fits to your favorite sunscreen bottle.
- Family Travel Game: Pack this fun, easy-to-play travel game for those long layovers or hotel stays, guaranteed to cure boredom and provide some quality family time.
- Magnetic Travel Toy Set: Encourage creativity with these travel-sized magnetic toys, perfect for screen-free entertainment during travels.
- Noise-cancelling Headphones: Protect your kid's ears (and your sanity!) from those darn fireworks or noisy environments with these kid-friendly noise-cancelling headphones.
Music fades, laughter continues, and everyone smiles, knowing their journey will be a smoother one.
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Families traveling with young children can make their trips more enjoyable and less stressful by bringing along some recommended travel items designed for comfort, entertainment, and convenience. Here are some key essentials:
Recommended Travel Items for Families with Young Children
1. Travel StrollerA compact, lightweight travel stroller such as the Bugaboo Butterfly Travel Stroller is highly recommended. It’s designed for ease of use on the go, providing comfort and mobility for young children[2].
2. Entertainment and Toys- Magnetic Toy Travel Kit: A compact, mess-free kit that offers magnetic pieces for building and creative play. The tin doubles as a play area, making it versatile and perfect for keeping kids engaged during travel[2].
- Yoto Mini Screen-Free Audio Player: This device provides screen-free entertainment through stories and music, helping reduce screen time during travel.
3. Comfort Items- Inflatable Airplane Footrest: This lightweight, easy-to-inflate footrest fills the space between airplane seats to create a flat surface for kids to lie down and sleep on long flights. It's compact and affordable, making it a practical comfort solution[2].
- Favorite Cuddly Toy or Blanket: Bringing a child’s favorite comfort toy or blanket can provide emotional security and help with relaxation or sleep during travel[1][4]. It's wise to bring a backup in case one gets lost[4].
- Neck Pillow (Kid-Sized): A neck pillow tailored for children adds support and comfort during flights or car rides[1].
4. Safety and Convenience Gear- Toddler Sling or Carrier: Useful for hands-free carrying and keeping toddlers close during transit and busy airport environments.- Cross-Body Bag for Parents: Handy for keeping important items like passports, documents, snacks, and wipes accessible.- Travel Car Seat or Vest: Products like the WayB Pico travel car seat or RideSafer Travel Vest ensure children’s safety while traveling in vehicles without the bulk of traditional car seats.
5. Practical Essentials to Pack- Change of clothes and wipes for quick cleanups and diaper changes[4].- Snacks and drinks to keep children nourished and hydrated during the trip[4].- Layers such as a light fleece blanket or cardigan to accommodate changing temperatures onboard planes or in vehicles[4].
Bringing a thoughtful combination of these items can greatly ease the challenges of traveling with young children and make the journey more comfortable and entertaining for the entire family. Packing smart and including familiar comfort items and engaging travel toys reduces stress and helps keep children happy on the move[1][2][4].
- A freelance travel writer could help create informative content for a commerce partnership between BuzzFeed and freelance marketplaces, focusing on family-friendly travel products like kid-sized neck pillows or portable high chairs, aligning with lifestyle, home-and-garden, and travel themes.
- With the SlumberPod and Travel Cot, kids can enjoy a good night's sleep, ensuring they have the energy to explore new destinations the next day, making vacations more enjoyable for both parents and kids.
- In the freelance-market, a writer could target their content to parents planning family vacations, offering product reviews or travel advice, such as using the Water Wow Travel Set for entertainment during car rides or the Travel Activity Tray to keep toys organized during long road trips.
- As part of a lifestyle brand, a company could offer a home-and-garden collaboration by designing kid-friendly travel essentials such as the Car Seat Travel Bag, which keeps car seats organized and secure during check-in, making travel less stressful for families.
